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On Mar 24, 2005, MadGecko13 Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:
Wonderful. Wonderful seeds, wonderful packaging, wonderful instructions, just wonderful! Even had an addressing issue for a gift and the customer service person was wonderful about it! I'm looking at my big, strong tomato seedlings now and am quite pleased.
I love this company as much as I do Baker Creek! Placed my order on the website and it arrived within 9 days. The order was correct and properly packaged. I really enjoy receiving the catalog and browsing the website throughout the year because they give wonderful information for each item. I've ordered from SSE twice and I'll keep ordering for future gardening.
GREAT company and wonderful customer service....very knowledgeable and helpful! All I grow is heirloom and it is due to this company and Baker Creek that I am also an organic grower :)
My 10 yr old and 4 yr old love the SSE catalog so much I have to put it up out of reach so I can look at it before they cut the pictures out to compare our plants with the pic's!
I've been a member for years and also order from the catalog. This is the place to go for heirloom seeds. All the seeds and tomato transplants that I've ordered from their catalogs have been excellent quality, 100% germination for seeds and healthy strong tomato plants!
I'm absolutely captivated by many of these varieties- 'Noir des Carmes' melons (I didn't know that I wanted to grow melons until I saw this picture and read the description), then there are the tomatoes, and the lettuces... ah, yes the lettuces! They are gorgeous and delicious!
We are very fortunate that so many people around the world have kept so many of these treasures to pass on and that this organization exists to pass on our gardening heritage!
It is also VERY important to me that the companies that I order from have signed the safe seed pledge. Way to go!
On Feb 21, 2005, nevadagdn Sparks, NV (Zone 7a) wrote:
I placed an order for seeds and transplants online. The seeds came quickly--nice selection, btw. I'll report back when the tomato plants arrive in May.
On May 16th, 2005, nevadagdn added the following:
I received my tomato plants today. They were perfectly packaged, the soil was still a little moist, and the plants were in excellent shape. I look forward to experimenting with tomatoes!On July 31st, 2005, nevadagdn added the following:
The tomato transplants have grown rampantly, and I Have Tomatoes! Okay, so they are still green except for a few cherry tomatoes, but I have tomatoes!
I placed my first seed order this year with Seed Savers. All were shipped quickly but one. It was backordered.
By co-incidence the backordered seed was one I decided that I wanted to order more of than originally requested. I hated having to place a new order for 1 packet of seeds that I know was already on backorder so I decided to try my luck and call the company to see if it was possible to modify my original order instead. The woman who answered said it was no problem. She brought up my original order request and made the changes. She said the seeds will be shipped (the backordered & new request) together.
They definitely get my vote! Nowadays, most customer service people I talk to barely know how to do their job let alone make order specific changes. It was refreshing to talk to someone who knew how to answer my questions without having to transfer me first.
On April 10th, 2005, gomyway added the following:
UPDATE . The rest of my order came in about 2 weeks ago. I got both packets just like they promised. No extra shipping charges. Got them in plenty of time for planting too. (we don't plant corn here until the 1st of June.
I have ordered from this company for the past two years and have had excellent results! I have ordered flower seeds, vegetable seeds and rose bushes through their agreement with the Antique Rose Emporium. All orders have been correct and prompt. The seeds have grown beautiful plants, especially the Grandpa Ott's morning glory and the dwarf peas and cherry tomatoes (grown in containers for my children). The roses have been fantastic bloomers (their first year) and arrived in great condition and also on time. I will continue to do business with them and can recommend highly.
I have recently placed two orders with SSE. Both orders were shipped immediately. The seed selection is wonderful and the seeds germinated well. I will be ordering again as I keep discovering unusual varieties that they carry.
I ordered several packets of seeds. Since I just received them several days ago, I cannot attest to quality. Their service, however, is great. I received the seeds very quickly and without incident, I'm pleased so far.
I placed my first order this season. quick turnaround and when the person processing my order realised I had entered the same item twice I got a phone call to verify that item(which was indeed a mistake), and correct the order. it shipped promtly the day I called. excellent work.
On Feb 10, 2004, Reversemidas Vienna, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:
Found this company mentioned in one of the Garden Web forums discussion, then went to Garden Watchdog, and finally to their website. Thought not alot of seeds on the web general catalog, still very good selection and variety. Placed order and wow, got the seeds fast. Okay, they may be higher than other places for seeds, but its a non-profit organization doing a good thing. That gets my vote and business. Looking forward to starting the seedlings. Fast efficient service and good overall selection.
On October 16th, 2006, Reversemidas added the following:
Seeds actually germinated well. Had very good success with them, that I ordered from them again. Yes they are a bit higher than anyone else, but for a non-profit organization I don't mind. They now carry more varieties on their website. Great.
On Feb 10, 2004, JenniferRuth Oklahoma City, OK wrote:
I had the chance to visit their Heritage Farm in Decorah, Iowa. What a nice experience. They have a store there where you can buy seeds, books, and other items. They also have a small herd of very rare white cattle which were lovely to look at. There is a general catalog with a wide selection of seeds, or you can pay a membership fee and have access to a far wider range. I've always been pleased with what I bought from them, and it's a good feeling to help support such important work.
I found these good people on the internet. I was always on the outlook for the heirloom veggie seeds my grandparents grew. Between the catalog and the seeds savers exchange yearbook I'm finding a previously lost past. Service is top rate, selection for my needs at least is excellent. Go there, buy seeds and join to support a very worthy cause. It's our life, it's our heritage.
Seems like good folks and a good source of heirloom seeds. Right after I ordered I got an email saying the order would be delayed 5 days to a week, which doesn't matter to me in January in Zone 6, but it's refreshingly responsible for a retailer. Just as important, true to their word a week later it shipped!
None of the "well it might be a little longer" repeated 'til January turns into April.
I've been ordering from them for years, and I have nothing but good things to say about them! One time there was a delay in shipping one package of basil seeds, and I received a hand written note apologizing and explaining the problem.
On Aug 29, 2003, berrygirl Braselton, GA (Zone 7b) wrote:
I ordered from them first time this spring. I felt I didnt get good germination so I called the co. They sent me TWO pks of seeds instead of replacing the one and I was very impressed b/c theyre not a big name outfit and im sure theyre budget is tight. I will be ordering heirloom seeds from them again!!!
On January 12th, 2006, berrygirl changed the rating from positive to neutral and added the following:
Maybe I have a bad memory but I don't ever remember getting very tiny seeds from SSE that were not also in a glassine envelope. When I opened my petunia seeds they all spilled out on the floor. I was expecting them to be in another envelope, and when I opened the glue flap, they fell out!
If I am wrong about this, then I apologize in advance. I am sure though, that in the past they have always been in glassine envelopes.
Ordered three packets of seeds to try them out - all germinated well (+90%). I can't keep the catalogue at work - everybody wants to see the unusual varieties they carry! (can't wait to eat my first Prescott Fond Blanc cantaloupe!)
I enjoy ordering from there catalog.You get a good amount of seeds not like the store bought packages where you just get a few seeds. Always a good selection and sure to find something you haven't tried before or that's not available anywhere eles. Germination is always good. I look forward to getting my catalog.
I ordered heirloom tomato seeds from this company about a week ago. I realized after I placed the order, or course, that I forgot one variety. I emailed them but missed the shipping date. They sent me the single packet of seeds for cost only, no shipping charge. It was my fault, and they helped me anyway. The seeds arrived in 4 days, packaged well and correct. Very good company.
On March 29th, 2002, DrMikeG added the following:
Update: Seeds germinated at a rate close to 100%...very robust seedlings.
On Dec 7, 2001, MikeD Liberal, OR (Zone 8b) wrote:
Along with being a member of the exchange and receiving the benefit of thousands of seed varieties offered in the annual exchange, I also have purchased seeds from the organization's seed catalog.
SSE is the grand daddy of the heirloom seed movement. They are the model for many other similar organizations and small specialty seed companies - our's included.
On Dec 5, 2001, BakerCreekSeed Mansfield, MO (Zone 6b) wrote:
The Group that started the now popular heirloom seed movement, I have been a member for 6 years and it has been worth 10 times the membership fee to me!
The SSE now has a website. At this site you can join the SSE, order some of their publications, or even place an order for vegetable and/or flower seeds. They only sell a limited number of varieties, but they're all great.
These folks are GREAT! The seeds you received are very high quality. The membership price is well worth it because you are then networked with literally thousands of home gardeners all over the States, Canada, UK, and Mexico. I have made some great relationships through this exchange and the gardens beautiful.
We've had nothing but good luck with the seeds. We start from seed in February and had a 95 percent germination rate. Most varieties produced very strong plants and we ended up giving away 350 tomato plants to friends and family above and beyond the 40 we planted.
